Judge Clarence Harrison dealt a swift blow to the Madison County asbestos litigation system by ordering all 2013 asbestos cases to be set on a "case-by-case basis." The order came just three days after Harrison heard arguments for and against a previous judge's order allowing certain law firms to reserve trial dates in 2013, even though many of the cases weren't on file with the court.

Lisa A. Rickard, president of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR), issued a statement applauding Madison County Circuit Judge Clarence Harrison's decision to end the pre-assignment of asbestos trials to plaintiffs' law firms. After recent controversy involving Judge Barbara Crowder, who was removed from the asbestos docket after her campaign committee received $30,000 from plaintiffs' lawyers shortly after she awarded their firms most of the court's 2013 trial times, asbestos trials will now be set on a case-by-case basis.